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"You'll never know the pain you've caused and the beauty you've taken away," he said. They've destroyed something beautiful here."

He paid tribute to his daughter, adding: "She was the nicest person any of us know.

"We need Jodie to have justice "

"Everything about her was about being kind and good and thoughtful."

He added: "Someone knows who did this... the person needs to be caught. Jodie needs justice.

"We need for Jodie to have justice. No one thinks this is OK. Surely nobody who knows the guy who did this thinks it is okay.

"You can't get kudos for stabbing a 17-year-old in the back. So, just dob them in, grass them up, this is not alright."

Jodie Chesney (Image: Instagram: j_xdie)

Asked what message the family have for those who carry knives or are thinking about it, Mr Chesney said: "I don't know when this happened, when this was OK to carry knives and use them, it wasn't like that when I was at school."

He added: "The message is, just think about what you are going to do with your life. If you are going to carry a knife and if you're going use a knife, you are going to ruin your life, and others - and why?"

Mr Chesney said knife crime is "getting worse" and that he does not know where the culture has come from, adding: "Something has got to be done."

Yesterday (Tuesday, March 7) a 20-year-old man was arrested in Leicester in connection with Jodie's death.

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This is why an entire town is turning purple

An entire housing estate, including schools and surrounding areas, is turning purple to remember Jodie.

Her family have said that her favourite colour was purple, which is why people within the community have made it their mission to transform where they live, in memory of Jodie.

Several schools are involved in Purple Friday this week (Friday, March 8), where pupils, students, and staff are invited to wear something purple for the day, to support the campaign.

People are also putting ribbons on their front doors, gates and flying flags.

One woman placed a huge ribbon on her door in support

Time Line

What happened when Jodie Chesney died

9pm - Socialising with friends

Jodie was with her friends and boyfriend on the evening of Friday, March 1, 2019.

At around 9pm the group saw two males leave the park, and they had not spoken to each other.

9.25pm - Jodie was attacked

The two men were seen entering the park around half an hour after they initially left. They walked straight towards the group of teenagers and one of the men stabbed Jodie in the back.

Nothing was said during the attack.

9.26pm - Emergency services rush to the scene

Police were called, as well as London Ambulance Service, to St Neot's Road park to reports of a stabbing.

10.26pm - Jodie sadly passes away

Jodie, who was just 17 at the time, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

She had died just one hour after being attacked.

Her boyfriend was at the scene, with a resident who came to help after hearing 'shouts' for help.

Murder investigation launched

Metropolitan Police launch a murder investigation and forensics are spotted at the scene on Saturday, March 2.

Speaking in Havering the day after the murder, Acting Detective Chief Superintendent John Ross of the East Area Command Unit said: "Yesterday a 17-year-old girl lost her life, and I want to express my deepest sympathies to (Jodie's) family and friends. Her death is a tragedy.

"I can reassure them and the whole community that we are doing everything possible to identify and bring to justice the person or persons responsible.

"It is days like these that really do highlight how we must continue to work tirelessly with our partners and the public to tackle knife crime.

"I am urging any witnesses, anyone who saw anything suspicious or anyone with information about the incident to contact police and share what they know."

Fundraiser Page set up

The community, shocked by the events, rally together and start a fundraising page to help Jodie's family in funeral costs.

Description of killer released

Met Police release information about the killer in a bid to find him.

Parents concerned to let their children out

Mums speak out after the events, concerned for the crime in the area and allowing their children to play out.

March 6 - Man arrested

A man was arrested in Leicester in connection to the murder.The male - who has not been named - will be brought back to London at a later date, the Mirror reports.

A Scotland Yard statement read: "A male was arrested in Leicester on Tuesday, 5 March in connection with the murder of Jodie Chesney, 17.

"He remains in custody at this time.

"Arrangements will be made to transport the male to London in due course."

The entire town turns purple

Thursday, March 7

A peaceful protest is scheduled to take place for residents to stand against knife crime.

7.30pm from Atlanta Boulevard in Romford and walking to the Police Station.

Friday, March 8

At 4pm, the community plan to tie purple ribbons around Amy's Park.

Then 8pm, a candlelight vigil will take place where hundreds are expected to turn up in support of Jodie and her family and friends.

Man charged with murder

Manuel Petrovic was arrested on Tuesday, (March 5) in Leicester, in connection to the murder. He was then transported to London for officers to keep in custody while they dealt with their investigations, a statement from Scotland Yard said.

Petrovic appeared at Barkingside Magistrates' Court this morning, (March 9), and purple ribbons were spotted outside the court building.

His lawyer, Zahir Ahmed, said there was no application for bail, whilst Nigel Bower, chairing magistrate, remanded Petrovic in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Monday, (March 11).

The accused murderer was wearing a grey tracksuit and only spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and nationality as Croatian. He also confirmed his address, of Highfield Road, Romford, during the short three-minute hearing, reports The Evening Standard.

Another man has since been arrested, on suspicion of murder, (March 8), and remains in police custody whilst investigations continue.

A Scotland Yard statement read: "A male was arrested in Leicester on Tuesday, 5 March in connection with the murder of Jodie Chesney, 17.

"He remains in custody at this time.

"Arrangements will be made to transport the male to London in due course."

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